Flat film viewer



D. s. M C ZHESNEY 2,660,920

FLAT FILM VIEWER Dec. 1, 1953 Filed 00$. 25. 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. Donald 5. McC/yeane y,

Dec. 1, 1953 D. s. MOCHESNEY FLAT FILM VIEWER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. 25, 1950 Dec. 1, 1953 D. s. MOCHESNEY ,6 9

FLAT FILM VIEWER Filed Oct. 25, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. .Dona/a 5. McC/vesney, BY

Dec. 1, 1953 D. s. M CHESNEY 2,660,920

FLAT FILM VIEWER Filed Oct. 25, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Dec. 1, 1953 D. s. MCCHESNEY FLAT FILM VIEWER 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 25-, 1950 ZNVENTOR.

Dec. 1, 1953 D. s. MOCHESNEY 2,660,920

FLAT FILM VIEWER Filed Oct. 25, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 67 v Q a l P so I MZ 7 v 'INVENTOR.

7 79 Donald 6.NcC/7esne Dec. 1, 1953 D. s. MQCHESNEY FLAT FILM VIEWER '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Oct. 25, 1950 INVEN TOR. Dona/a '5. McCfiemgg wm a h A 77'0AWf215 Patented Dec. 1, 1953 2&66326 FLAT FILM VIEWER Donald S. McChesney, Solvay, N. Y., assignor to Hall & McChesney, Inc., poration of New York Syracuse, N. Y., a cor= Application October 25, 1950, Serial No. 192,007

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for viewing an image on a flat film having a multiplicity of images arranged in vertical and horizontally extending rows.

More particularly the invention relates to a viewing apparatus of the type referred to intended for use in recording offices, such as the oflices of county clerks, for viewing recorded instruments which have been recorded by being photographed on a film with great reduction.

Due to the tremendous mass of instruments that have been placed on record for the past century and a half, many recording offices are now badly pressed for storage space and particularly for the storag of recorded instruments in such a manner that they can be conveniently referred to by search clerks and other persons having occasion to consult them.

In some instances, the older recorded instruments are being reproduced on what is generally known as micro-film. In this process, the instrument is photographed and the film or portion of the film containing the photograph or image of one page of the document is only a matter of a fraction of an inch in length and width. Accordingly, in order to inspect this small image, it is necessary to project the image on a relatively large screen.

This invention has as an object an apparatus embodying a structural arrangement by which a micro image on a flat film containing several hundred of such images may be quickly selected and projected upon a viewing screen, the arrangement embodying a particularly simple and economically manufactured structure which can be conveniently manipulated by any person without the necessity of special instructions or training.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view with parts broken away and parts in section.

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure l is a View taken on line 4, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the dialing mechanism.

Figur 6 is an enlarged view taken on line 5-6, Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a view taken on line li, Figure 6.

The apparatus is mounted in an irregular shaped cabinet having a rear portion ill of rectangular form and in which the film is mounted for movement in directions lengthwise and transversely of the film. The cabinet further includes a forwardly extending portion l i, in th forward end of which there is mounted a viewing screen 12 and a smaller forwardly extending portion E3, in which is mounted the dialing apparatu for moving the film in the selection of the desired image. The light source is provided in a housing 14 arranged in the rear of the cabinet portion 10 and supported by a bracket is.

An optical system designated generally at it is mounted on the inner Wall of the cabinet portion H. The film [8, Figure 4, is mounted in a frame is arranged for vertical and horizontal movements. The frame I9 is mounted for ver tical movement in a frame 2i] which, in turn, is mounted for lateral movement in a stationary frame 2 l.

The frame i9 is also mounted for transverse movement in a frame 22 which, in turn, is mounted for vertical movement in the stationary frame 2|. The movable frames I 9, 2t, 22, are provided with antifriction rollers Z 5, whereby these frames are easily movable without chatter or shaking during their movement. The frame I9 is provided with means for detachably mountin the film I8.

The light source in the housing H3 is arranged to project a beam on the screen if, this beam passing through the optical system is which functions to diverge the beam so that it substantially covers the screen l2.

The film frame It and the frames 2t, 2!, in which it is mounted are arranged in the rear portion I t of the cabinet with the positioned intermediate the light source and the optical system [6, whereby an image on the film is projected and enlarged onto the screen The optical system It is adjustable to correct the focus by a knob 25 mounted on the end of a shaft journalled in the cabinet portion if and exposed on the forward face thereof. The inner end of the shaft 26 is connected to a movable member 23 of the optical system by a belt all. With this arrangement, the optical system may be adjusted by the control knob 25.

The film carrying frame is is moved vertically by a flexible band 34, the ends of which are secured to the upper and lower side rails 35, 36, of the frame 22 and being trained about fixed idler rolls 38, 39, 40, ll, 52 and 43, see Figure l, The

intermediate portion of this band is trained about a drum it journalled for rotation in the cabinet. The band 34 is prererably iormed or iiexible sheet metal and uniformly perforated to receive teeth 45 iormed on the periphery of the drum a l in order to eliminate slippage between the band and the drum.

The i'rarne I9 is moved in a direction lengthwise oi the film by a band 50 trained about 'IlXGd idler rolls I, 39, ll, 46, iii, the ends of the bands being connected to the upper corners of frame 2c. The intermediate portion of the band 56 is looped about a drum 55 likewise provided with teeth 58 on its periphery to. engage perforations in the band 50.

The drums st, 55, are shown as being mounted coaxially, Figure The drum "is is fixed to the hub portion of a sleeve 5'5, as by screws 66. The sleeve 59 is connected to a tubular shaft 6| by a connecting collar 62. The sleeve '19 is. journalled in a bearing 63 mounted in the wall 64 of portion it of the cabinet. The outer end of the tubular shaft BI is journalled in a bearing 66 mounted in the front wall it of the cabinet portion Is. A hub member at fixed to the outer end of the tubular shaft iiI and carries a disk 59. A second disk it is mounted on the disk 69 by screms l I and spacer blocks I2. An operating knob I3 is mounted on the central portion of the disk Ill by screws M.

The drum 55 is fixed to a hub member 54. by screws I5 and the hub member is pinned to the inner end of a shaft I6 journalled in the sleeve 59. The shaft i6 is connected to a shaft I'I. by

a coupling I8, the shaft 'I'i extending within the tubular shaft BI and being provided at its outer end with an operating knob "59. This knob has afiixed to it a disk 80, as by screws 8I, the disk 80 constituting a dial arranged intermediate the disks 6 9, 10, see Figure 6. Withv this arrangement, rotation is imparted to the drums 44, 55, by the knob I3, I9, respectively.

It will be apparent that upon rotation of the knob 19 and drum 55, the. frame I9 is adjustable in a direction lengthwise of the film, or

horizontally in Figure 4 of the drawings. On

the other hand, rotation of the knob "It. effects movement of the film in a transverse direction or vertically corresponding to the showing in Figure 4.

Structure is provided for locking the, drums 4.4, 55, against rotation and for individually releasing the drums for rotation. The drum 44.

is formed with an annular seriesv of-t depressions 9D, and the drum 55 with a similar series 9L.

A stop pin 92 is slidably mounted in the base of a bracket 93 for engagement with the recesses 90 in the drum M. A collar 94 is. afilxed to. the end of the pin 92 contiguous to the drum, and,

a coil compression spring 95 acts against the collar 94 to yieldingly urge; the pin. into locking engagement with the drum, see Figure 6. A similar pin 98 is arranged for engagement with the recesses 9| in the drum 55, this pin having a collar 99 acted upon by the compression spring I00. The opposite ends of the pins 92, 98, are provided with pairs of spaced collars I01. I02.. A. yoke I03 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to the bracket 93 and with its ends arranged intermediate the pairs of collars, IOI, I02. The yoke I03 is affixed to the upper end of a shaft I05, to the lower end of which there is. attached a second yoke I06. The ends of this yoke are connected to rods I01, Hi8, Figures 6 and 7, and the opposite ends of the rods I01,

4 I08, are connected to the ends of a yoke Hi9 journalled intermediate its ends to a bracket Ht secured to the plate GI of the cabinet. The yoke We has connected to it a handle iii which extends outwardly through the race or the cabinet.

When it is desired to unlock the drum 44, the handle III is moved to the left, moving the rod IU'I outwardly and effecting clockwise rotation of the yoke I03, Figure 6, and in turn effecting outward movement of the pin 9?. by engagement with the collar I02. The collars Iili, I02 are spaced apart axially a suiiicient distance to permit inward movement of one end or" the yoke Hi3, a, sufiicient distance to cause the other end of the yoke to withdraw the associated pin 92, 98 from engagement with the drums 44, 55. Movement oi the handle Hi to the right will etfect. withdrawal of the lock pin 98, as will be apparent. The rods I01, I08, are provided with turn buckles H2 to effect proper adjustment. of theoperating linkage described.

As previously stated, they individual images or frames on the film I8, indicated in Figure 4 by the small rectangular outlines H5, in actual practise only a fractional part or" an inch in dimension. Accordingly, a very slight movement imparted to the film frame I!) will move a selected image out of proper registration with the optical system IS. The, purpose. or theknohs I3, 79, is toquickly move the frame. It to brin a. desired one of the images H5 into registra.-- tion with the optical system of the apparatus. For this purpose, the dials Hi, 88, are provided with indicia for indicating the particular image. in registration with the optical system. The. dial has printed on the face thereof numbers: indicating the number of the image in a. later. ally extending row on the fi1m..

The dial III may be formed of transparent. material, or of opaque. material, with apertures: through which the indicia. on the. inner dial 8:0

may be viewed. The outer dial I0 hasindicia.

at each aperture indicating the. number of the. horizontal row of images on the. film. There is an: inner annular series I I6 of: these apertures; and an outer annular series. I. I1. The film: illustrated in Figure 4 contains fifty images; in each horizontal row numbering from 0: 120.49. inclusive-in the top row, 50m 99 inclusivein thenext row down, etc. There are fifteen, horizontal rows.

The inner dial 80 is provided with; an inner annular series of numbers. H8 running from 0 to 49 inclusive, and. an outer annular series; H9 running from 50 to 99 inclusive. apertures H6. in the outer dial, II! are arranged. in register with the inner series of numbers; H18 on the dial 80. Likewise. the outer series. of apertures Ill are arranged in register with the outer series of numbers H9. The inner series of apertures H6 are numbered, on the. outer dial I0 from. 0 to 7 inclusive. The outer apertures. II'I are numbered 0. to 6, inclusive. see Figure. 5... These numbers arranged in juxtaposition to the apertures H6, H1, from the first. di it in the number of the. image desired to be. positioned In the focal axis of the readen If the desired. image is No. 168, the. outer; dial is turned to.- aline the aperture having the number 1 in juxtaposition thereto. Because the next two digits. of the number of the image. desired are 6; 8 the dial 10 will be turned to. aline the. number 1 aperture in the outer series III with, the. arrow I20. The inner dial 8.0 will then. be rotated; to bring the number 68 into register with that The aperture. These movements of the dials will move the film frame is vertically and horizontally to bring the 18th image in the fourth horizontal row from the top of the film.

This manipulation of the drums 44, 55, as previously stated, is to conveniently bring a selected of the images into juxtaposition with the It may not axis of the optical system. osition the seiected image in perfect and satisactory registration with the focal axis of the optical system. This inaccuracy may result from nianufactu .ng tolerances necessitated in the viewing apparatus, chan es in the film due to humidity, and other causes which can not be overcome by rotation of the frame moving drums dd, 55.

The apparatus includes however a structure by which a minute movement can be imparted to the film in a direction lengthwise or transversely thereof.

The band is trained over a roller it, the roller engaging the band intermediate the drum and the bottom rail of the frame 22. This roller is iournalled in the end of an arm 13!, the lower end of which is pivotally mounted in the plate of the cabinet. The arm i3! is yieldingly moved about its pivot to cause the roller R38 to place a tension on the band as. A portion of the band 34 on the opposite side of the drum is engaged by a similar roller I36 journalled an arm 53? pivotally mounted upon the plate The arm it? is provided intermediate its ds 'Jvith a rectangular shaped aperture in which .e is sliciably mounted a pair of blocks :38. The confronting surfaces of these blocks are bored to form a circular aperture to receive an eccentric l te fixed to a shaft is! Journalled in the cabinet and having an operating handle 52 on the outer end thereof, see Figures 6 and 7.

The arm it! is biased by tension spring his to place the band 34 under tension whereby there is no slack in the band. After the drums 4d, 55 have been rotated to bring the selected end in juxtaposition with the optical system, the drums are automatically locked by the pins 92, 98. Thereafter, rotation of the shaft Nil by the handie :42 will move the arm 131 about its pivot I46. When the arm is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, Figures 4 and 7, further tension will be placed upon that portion of the band attached to the upper rail 35 of the frame 22 causing the frame 22 to move upwardly against the tension of the spring his. The operative arrangement of the eccentric I43, arm I31 and roller $35 is such that upon a slight movement of the handle I42, a very minute movement is imparted to the frame 22. It will be apparent that rotation of the eccentric l iil to move the arm l3! in a clockwise direction will result in the frame 22 moving downwardly under the tension of spring I44.

A similar arrangement is provided for the band 5t consisting of a roller I53 journalled in an arm l5! pivoted at its opposite end, as at 152, and an arm [53 pivoted at i515 and having a roller Hi5, this arm being operated by the eccentric I50, shaft 55? and handle I53,

With this sensitive construction, the operator can impart a very slight movement either vertically or horizontally to the film to bring the selected image into registration with the optical system.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for viewing an image on a flat film having a multiplicity of images thereon, comprising a viewing screen, a light source, an

optical system, a frame for supporting a film in said optical system intermediate said screen and light source, said frame being mounted for movement in directions lengthwise and transversely of said film to position various ones of said images in registration with said optical system, a flexible band attached at its ends to opposite sides of said frame and having an inter nediate portion engaging the periphery of a drum journalled for rotation, said flexible member and drum being cooperable upon rotation of the drum to move the film frame in a direction lengthwise of the film, a second flexible member attached at its ends to the opposing opposite sides of the frame and having an intermediate portion engaging the periphery of a second drum journalled coaxially with said first drum, said second drum and fiexi ble member being cooperable to move the film frame in a direction transversely of the film, a pair of manually operable controls connected to said drums individually, a dial carried by one control, a transparent dial carried by the other control and overlying said first dial, and indicia carried by said dials and cooperable to indicate the selected image positioned in said optical system.

2. Apparatus for viewing an image on a fiat film having a multiplicity of images thereon, comprising a viewing screen, a light source, an optical system, a frame for supporting a film in optical system intermediate said screen and light source, a drum journalled for rotation, a flexible band looped about said drum and being cooperable upon rotation of the drum to move said frame in a dir ction lengthwise of the film, a second drum journalied for rotation and a second flexible band looped about said second drum. and being operable upon rotation of said second drum to move said frame in a direction transversely of the film, stop members for said drums each yieldably held in position for securing engagement with the drum with which it cooperates, and means for individually moving said stop members out of securing engagement with the drums with which they engage and temporarily holding one stop member in its releasing position While the other stop member remains in securing engagement with the companion drum.

3. Apparatus for viewing an image on a flat film having a multiplicity of images thereon, comprising a viewing screen, a light source, an optical system, a film supporting frame mounted in said optical system intermediate the light source and said screen, a drum journalled for rotation, a pair of arms pivotally mounted at like ends and being provided at their opposite ends with rollers, a flexible band trained over a portion of the periphery of said drum and being connected at its ends to said frame, said band being also trained about said rollers, and means yieldingly urging one of said arms about its pivot to tension said band, said band being cooperable upon rotation of the drum to move said frame in a direction lengthwise of the film, manually operable means for effecting pivotal movement of said second arm to cause movement of said band independently of said drum.

4. Apparatus for viewing an image on a flat film having a multiplicity of images thereon, comprising a viewing screen, a light source, an optical system, a frame for supporting a film in said optical system intermediate said screen and light source, said frame being mounted for movement in directions lengthwise and transversely of 1, oomoao said film to position various ones of said images in registration with said optical system, a pair of drums journalled in coaxial relation, a flexible band trained over a portion of the periphery of each of said drums with the ends of the bands being connected to said frame, one or said bands being coopeiable upon rotation of the drum over which said band is trained to move said frame in a direo' ion lengthwise of the film, the other of said bands being cooperable upon rotation of said other drum. to move the frame in a direction transversely of the film, a roll engaging each of said bands and means operablev to yieldingly move said rolls in direction to tension said bands respectively, a second. roll engaging each of said bands and annually operable means for moving said second rolls individually to increase or decrease the tension on said bands respectively.

5. Apparatus for viewing an imageon a fiat film having a multiplicity of images thereon comprising a viewing screen, a light source, an optical system, a iilni supporting frame mounted in said optical system intermediate the light source and screen, a drum journalled for rotation, a flexible band trained over a portion 8 of the periphery of said drum and being connected at its ends to said frame, means operable to effect tension on said band between the portion thereof engaging said drum and one end of the band, an arm pivotally mounted at one end and being provided with a roller at its opposite end engaging the band between that portion engaging the drum and the opposite end of the band, said band being cooperable upon rotation of the drum to effect movement of said frame in a direction parallel to the plane of the dim, and manually operable means for effecting pivotal movement of said arm to cause movement of that portion of the band engaged thereby independently of said drum.

DONALD S. MCCIIESNEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,260,551 8on1 Oct. 28, 1941 2,292,825 Dilks Aug. 11, 1942 2,484,448 Cook Oct. 11, 1949 

